Meet Stephanie LaLima (AKA: ST3PH or Stephanie)

Below is one of the OTE mini-profiles, a five-question feature allowing readers to get to know a little more about commenters in the On The Edge blog community. Over the course of the next two-plus weeks, you will meet two-dozen OTE readers. You’ll learn the basics (name, age, where they live), and more. We had more than 30 questions and each reader was given five. No two readers had all the same questions. These are running regularly until July 11 when I return to work.

Who outside your family had the biggest influence on your life?
This is a hard one! There are a lot of friends that I can think of that have affected me, but had an influence on me? That I am not sure of. If I was really pressed, I’d probably say my two best friends. One male, one female, and they are both as unique as they are similar. They just make me a better person all around, and have taught me the value of independence, a strong personality, compromise, and generosity.

If you were to blog, what would you write about?
I started a blog once, wrote for it maybe three times, and gave up. It was a weight loss one, and it was actually prompted by the “New Year, New You” contest the Times Union & Healthy Life blog held. I “tried out” (how, exactly, does one try out for a contest like that? “My cottage cheese thighs beats your Jell-O arm jiggle?) for the contest, but did not make it. I was actually kind of pissed that I didn’t, so I figured I’d create my own, personal, “I’ll-show-you” blog. Which I abandoned after three blog entries. I did not, however, abandon my goal, and I am happily, proudly down 48 lbs in 5 months. If I were to start another one, I’d want it to be about dogs and proper nutrition. I’m appalled by people who feed a certain kind or brand of dog food because it’s name sounds “good” and in reality, it’s a corn-and-soy based food that dogs do not digest well, and are often allergic to.What was the last movie/TV show/book that made you cry?

Movie – Is it sad that I cannot even recall the last movie I watched, much less the last one that made me cry?

Book – Does it count if it was a funny book and you laughed so hard you cried? If yes, then “Assholes Finish First” by Tucker Max.

What’s the most money you ever found? Lost?
I found a $20 bill once. I lost a $100 bill at a feed store in Westerlo. It was definitely in my pocket when I got there, and it was definitely NOT in my pocket on the ride home. I was 12 or 13 at the time, and I was so embarrassed that I never told anyone.

How old were you when you found out Santa Claus was a myth?
I can’t honestly remember. I think it was like a gradual sort of knowledge, and I just knew. However, if you want a good story, my husband’s Aunt Lucy is such a good liar that her daughter, Rachelle made it until 8th grade still believing in Santa Claus. They would talk about Santa and Christmas, and Rachelle always aacted like Santa still existed, and Lucy thought it was just Rachelle “playing along.” Well, they were shopping Macy’s one day a few weeks before Christmas, and Aunt Lucy asked Rachelle if there was anything little that she wanted in her stocking. Rachelle turns to her mom and says, “Mom, Santa stuffs my stocking.” Lucy replies back, “Rachelle, COME ON! Seriously?” The look on Rachelle’s face was apparently priceless!

I also started blogging after not getting “picked” for the New Year, New You contest!!! However, I didn’t even have the nerve to post them so that anyone else could see!!! Like you though, I was also inspired to not give up on my goal though – still a ways away, but glad to see other people are doing the same :)

I so agree about pet food.
My friends tease me about buying expensive (relatively, unless you factor in the avoided vet expenses!) organic cat food for my two cats but seriously, if you’re not going to take your job as a dog or cat parent seriously, you probably shouldn’t adopt one in the first place.